Salman Hashimikov

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Salman Hashimikov was a Russian professional wrestler who won the IWGP Heavyweight Championship from Vader in 1989. Little is actually known about the former champion aside form his being a Russian suplex master and that Steve Williams refused to lose the title to him, leading to Vader's doing so instead. [1]

Hashimikov was the first actual Russian to win a professional wrestling title in the industralized, capitalist countries before the Cold War was over (most "Russians" or "Soviets" in North America were in fact gimmicks). He was brought to Japan by Antonio Inoki and stayed at the dojo to train as a professional.

Hashimikov later competed in UWF International but did not challenge for titles again.